memento

[ muh-men-toh ]

noun

, plural me·men·tos, me·men·toes.

1. an object or item that serves to remind one of a person, past event, etc.; keepsake; souvenir.
2. anything serving as a reminder or warning.
3. (initial capital letter, italics) Roman Catholic Church. either of two prayers in the canon of the Mass, one for persons living and the other for persons dead.

memento

/ mɪˈmɛntəʊ /

noun

1. something that reminds one of past events; souvenir
2. RC Church either of two prayers occurring during the Mass

Spelling Note

Memento is sometimes spelled momento, perhaps by association with moment. The word is actually related to remember. One of its earliest meanings was “something that serves to warn.” The meaning “souvenir” is a recent development: The stone animal carvings are mementos of our trip to Victoria. Momento is considered by many to be a misspelling, but it occurs so frequently in edited writing that some regard it as a variant spelling rather than an error.

Word History and Origins

Origin of memento¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin mementō, imperative of meminisse to remember

Word History and Origins

Origin of memento¹

C15: from Latin, imperative of meminisse to remember

Example Sentences

He looks a bit like  B̶r̶a̶d̶ ̶P̶i̶t̶t̶ Guy Pearce in Memento at this stage.

From The Daily Beast

I watched as each reached up to the press box, memento in hand.

From The Daily Beast

She was now wearing an equally prized memento on the chest of her dress uniform.

From The Daily Beast

Sandra McElwaine previews the loot, from a Cuban Missile Crisis memento to notes from the first lady.

From The Daily Beast

They offered tea, a smoke, and an Egyptian flag as a memento.

From The Daily Beast

Not only as 454 a memento of you, but as a perpetual encouragement to do better with his Lordship.

From Project Gutenberg

I could barely reach one little twig of pale, discolored leaves, to bring home as a memento.

From Project Gutenberg

It would be novel, economical, and moral; a kind of memento mori—a death's head at the feast!

From Project Gutenberg

Of this a very few instances, more by way of memento than of instruction, may suffice.

From Project Gutenberg

If he had been the General, he would have had the trees hewn down after the trial, and done away with every memento of the place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• keepsake
• relic
• remembrance
• reminder
• token
• trophy